Dialling phone numbers

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for effecting a voice communication between user terminals connected via a communication network include displaying a menu of country options to a user and receiving a number in local form. Formatting rules are recalled for a destination country selected by the user from the country options. A country prefix for the destination country is prepended to the number in accordance with the formatting rules to generate a formatted number. The formatted number is supplied to a client installed at the user terminal for effecting the voice communication using the formatted number.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation of and claims priority under 35U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/504,388, filed onOct. 1, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/301,339, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,855,294, filed on Nov. 21, 2011,which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/415,992, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,090,092, filed on May 2, 2006. The disclosures of which areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dialing phone numbers, and particularlybut not exclusively to assisting a user to dial phone numbers in acorrect format. The phrase “phone number” encompasses any numeric oralphanumeric sequences which can be used to instigate a communicationbetween two end users, and in particular includes within its ambit faxnumbers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A so-called peer-to-peer telephone system is described in WO2005/009019.In such a system, a plurality of end users can be connected forcommunication purposes via a communications structure, for example theinternet or world wide web. The communications structure issubstantially decentralised with regard to communication route switchingtherein for connecting the end users. That is, the end users canestablish their own communication routes through the structure based onexchange of one or more authorisation certificates (user identitycertificates—UIC) to acquire access to the structure. The structureincludes an administration arrangement issuing the certificates to theend users. One such phone system exists under the trade name SKYPE™.

In order to use such a phone system, each user terminal installs clientsoftware for making calls. A user terminal can for example be a personalcomputer (PC). The client software itself is not principally the subjectof this invention and so is not described in detail herein. It iscapable of receiving a phone number for an end user in a standardisedformat and implementing a call to that user. It also has a registry forholding user names and numbers, so that a name, instead of a number, canbe used to instigate a call. To allow a user to use the client software,it causes a display of the personal computer to display various imageswith which a user can interact using a conventional user interface suchas a keyboard or mouse and cursor arrangement. This includes the displayof a dialpad with numbers by means of which a user can dial the numberthat he wishes to call.

The SKYPE peer-to-peer phone system is widely used, but some issues havearisen which are addressed herein to simplify use of the system forusers, particularly but not exclusively new users. In particular, userscan have a difficulty in selecting the correct format of numbers to dialusing the dialpad. This is particularly the case when dialingInternational numbers, that is dialing to reach a user who is outside acountry where the dialing user is located.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method foreffecting a voice communication between user terminals connected via acommunication network, the method comprising:

-   -   displaying a menu of country options to a user;    -   receiving a number in local form;    -   recalling formatting rules for a destination country selected by        the user from the country options;    -   prepending to the number a country prefix for the destination        country in accordance with the formatting rules to generate a        formatted number; and    -   supplying the formatted number to a client installed at the user        terminal for effecting the voice communication using the        formatted number.

Another aspect of the invention provides a predictive dialer componentcomprising program code elements which, when executed by a computer,implement the following steps:

-   -   displaying a menu of country options to a user;    -   receiving a number in local form;    -   recalling formatting rules for a destination country selected        from the country options;    -   prepending to the number a country prefix for the destination        country in accordance with the formatting rules to generate a        formatted number; and    -   supplying the formatted number to a client installed at the user        terminal for effecting the voice communication using the        formatted number.

A further aspect of the invention provides a computer terminal foreffecting a voice communication via a communication network, thecomputer terminal comprising:

-   -   a processor arranged to execute a predictive dialer component        and a client;    -   a user interface;    -   a display; and    -   a store for holding formatting rules for a plurality of        countries and wherein the user interface is arranged to allow a        user to enter a number in local form, and wherein the predictive        dialer component comprises program code elements which when        executed display on the display a menu of country options to a        user, recall formatting rules for a destination country selected        by a user from the store, append to the number a country prefix        for the country of destination in accordance with said        formatting rules to generate a formatted number and supply the        formatted number to the client for effecting the voice        communication using the formatted number.

A further aspect of the invention provides a method of using a computerterminal to effect a voice communication over a communication networkcomprising:

-   -   selecting from a menu of country options displayed to a user a        destination country for the communication;    -   entering a local number using an input means of the computer        terminal; and instigating the voice communication by actuating a        call button displayed to a user on the computer terminal.

A further aspect of the invention provides a method of effecting a voicecommunication between user terminals connected in a communicationnetwork comprising:

-   -   displaying to a user an icon representing a default country;    -   receiving a local number;    -   prepending the country prefix of a default country to the local        number to generate a formatted number; and    -   supplying the formatted number to a client for instigating the        communication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how thesame may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way ofexample to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of user terminals communicating via acommunication network;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of components at a user terminal;

FIGS. 3 to 10 are screen shots illustrating operation of a predictivedialer component;

FIG. 11 illustrates the layout of a country database;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the steps carried out by apredictive dialer component; and

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating steps taken by a user to use acomputer terminal to effect a voice communication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating aspects of apeer-to-peer telephone system relevant to the present dialingarrangements. Reference numeral 2 denotes a world wide network such asthe world wide web or internet. Although the network is itself notcountry specific and in fact crosses country boundaries withoutnecessarily recognising them as such, as far as effecting communicationover a phone network (such as the public switched telephone network(PSTN) or mobile networks) is concerned, it is considered to encompass aplurality of GEO zones G1, G2, G3, etc. Only three GEO zones are shownfor the sake of clarity, but it will be appreciated that there are alarge number of such GEO zones in the world. Each GEO zone represents acountry and is associated with an appropriate country prefix P1, P2. InFIG. 1, the GEO zone G1 is shown associated with Estonia for which thecountry prefix P1 is 372. The GEO zone G3 is shown associated withAfghanistan for which the country prefix P3 is 93. Reference numeralsU1, U2 and U3 denote users of the phone system and in particular userterminals such as personal computers PCs. Users U1 and U2 are showncommunicating via the GEO zone G1 which we will refer to herein as thehome country (in the example discussed herein this is Estonia). The userU3 is shown located in an overseas country, in this case Afghanistan. Oneach user terminal is installed client software 100 which implements thefunctionality discussed herein to effect calls to allow voicecommunication to be effected. The communication is in the form of voiceover internet protocol (VoIP) or any other suitable protocol andincludes video, chat, messaging, and other forms of real-timecommunications.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of components at the user terminalU1, U2, U3. As in FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes the callingclient software. The client software includes settings 102 whichincorporate a user's profile country. The user terminal also hasapplications software 104, for example Windows which has its own countryregistry settings. Reference numeral 106 denotes a predictive dialercomponent which is associated with a dialpad wizard 108 and an addressbar 110. The client 100, applications software 104, predictive dialer106, dialpad wizard 108 and address bar 110 are all software componentsexecuted by a suitable processor 4 at the user terminal. A database 112holds formatting rules and symbols for a plurality of countries. Thereis a display 114 which shows the screens of subsequent figures to auser. Reference numeral 116 denotes a user interface which is in theform of a keyboard, and reference numeral 118 denotes a displayinterface such as a mouse and cursor arrangement which allows a user tointeract with the screen in a known way.

An aspect of the invention allows an internet voice application tobehave as a local phone. This can be accomplished using predictivedialer 106 with the dialpad wizard 108 or with the address bar 110. Thedialpad wizard will be described first.

FIG. 3 is a screen print showing the display launched by the wizard 108when the user first launches the client software 100 to make a phonecall. The display shows a call button 6 and an end call button 8 andincludes a field 10 in which the number to be called by the clientsoftware 100 is displayed. Next to this field is the image of a countryicon 12 representing the local country, in this case the Estonian flag.The client software 100 detects the country in which the user terminalis located either using the country settings of the application software104 or the profile settings 102 in the client software 100. The displayalso has three tabs, a contacts tab 14, a dial tab 15 and a history tab16.

FIG. 4 illustrates the effect of a user actuating the dial tab 15 toselect the dial screen 18. The dial screen shows the call button 6, endcall button 8, number field 10 and country icon 12 as before. Inaddition, it displays a dialing keypad 20, a field 22 for displaying thecountry in which the user to be called is located and a field 24 whichdisplays the number entered at the keypad 20. The field 22 holds acountry name 22 a, a country prefix 22 b and a country icon 22 c.

In order to make a local call, the user types in a local number, eitherusing the display interface 118 to actuate the correct buttons on thedisplayed keyboard 20, or using the keyboard 116. As shown in FIG. 5,this is displayed in the field 24 and also in field 10. In this case thecall that is being made is from one user terminal U1 in Estonia toanother user terminal U2 in Estonia. The user need only enter theEstonian local number as shown in FIG. 5. However, in order to make thecall the predictive dialer 106 adds the country prefix for Estonia, 372,together with the International dialing sign +, and supplies theformatted number to the client 100. FIG. 6 illustrates the screenshowing the number 30 in the form in which it is dialed by the clientsoftware 100 after the user has clicked on the call button 6. Inaddition to showing the number, the display also shows the country name32, the country icon 34 and the rate for the call 36. The rate is thecost per minute of the call and is dependent on the number which isbeing called.

FIG. 7 illustrates a screen when a user wishes to dial an Internationalnumber, that is for example to make a call from Estonia to Afghanistan.When a menu tab 38 in the field 22 is activated by a user, the screendisplays a menu in the form of a list 40 of countries associated withtheir country icons and country prefixes. The user can scroll throughthe list in a known way. Assume that the user selects Afghanistan thenFIG. 8 illustrates the screen with the country Afghanistan now displayedin the field 22. The user again types into the field 24 the local numberusing the dialpad 20 and then clicks on the call button 6. FIG. 9illustrates the screen as the call is being made which shows the numberwhich has been dialed including the appropriate country prefix forAfghanistan (+93), the country name and the rate. After the call, thecountry is automatically set back to the home country, in this caseEstonia, as shown in field 24 in FIG. 10.

In order to append the correct prefix, the predictive dialer componentrecalls formatting rules from the database which holds relevantinformation for each country in the form of a table. A table could beheld in an XML file or other resource. The format of the table is shownin FIG. 11. In the table of FIG. 11, each country name is associatedwith a number of data elements. The prefix is the country code. The areacode minimum digits is the minimum number of digits allowed in an areacode for the country. The area code maximum digits is the maximum numberof digits allowed for an area code in the country. Subscriber minimumdigits is the minimum number of digits in a subscribed number for thatcountry. The subscriber maximum digits is the maximum number of digitsin the subscriber number for that country. The country icon field holdsan icon for the country in the form of a country flag. The table alsoindicates whether there are any characters to be removed (usually zero)before prepending the country prefix. It will be appreciated that thedatabase could alternatively be located at a remote server to which theuser terminal has access.

The database also holds rate information for calls, the rate dependingon the number being called.

The functionality which has been described above is provided by thedialpad wizard (108) in combination with a predictive dialer component106. The dialpad wizard is used to initiate PSTN (public switchedtelephone network) communication by selecting a country code and a localnumber.

The address bar 110 is a tool that provides a similar but not identicalfunctionality. The address bar can be used to initiate a PSTNcommunication (by inputting a complete phone number, country code pluslocal number, or a local number only if the default country can beassumed), an internet protocol voice communication, or an instantmessaging chat communication. The address bar is suitable for moresophisticated users of the peer-to-peer system, and can be used as alocal phone when the default country is assumed.

When the default country is achieved, and a user enters theinternational calling sign “+” and a country code, e.g. 72 (Russia) thepredictive dialer component automatically enter the global mode, and thecountry ?? charges, in this case from Estonia to Russia.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating the steps implemented by thepredictive dialer component to provide a suitably formatted number tothe client software 100 for making a call. At step S1, the menu ofcountry options is displayed to the user using the drop-down menu 40shown in FIG. 7. At step S2, it is checked whether or not a user hasselected a country. If no country is selected, at step S3 a defaultcountry is selected. The default country is detected as described above.At step S4 it is checked whether or not a user has entered a phonenumber. This number is entered in local form. When the user has enteredthe number, at step S5 formatting rules are recalled from the database112 for the selected country. At step S6, the correct country prefix isappended to the number, and any characters which need to be removed asshown in the formatting rules is removed. The result is a correctlyformatted number which can be displayed to the user at step S7 andsupplied to the client software 100 at step S8.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating the sequence of steps to be takenby a user for effecting a voice communication using the user terminal.At step S12 a user checks the format of the number being dialed. At stepS10, the user selects from a menu of user options a destination countryfor the communication. At step S11, the user enters a local number usingthe user interface, in this case using the dialpad which is displayed tothe user. At step S13, voice communication is instigated by clicking onthe call button displayed to a user on the computer terminal.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for effecting a voicecommunication between a first user terminal and a second user terminalconnected via a communication network, the method comprising: displayinga dialing screen in a user interface, the dialing screen comprising acountry icon for a destination country, a keypad for dialing, and adisplay field; receiving a number in local form at the first userterminal; responsive to a user input to select the destination country,displaying a list of countries, each country in the list comprising acountry icon; recalling a country prefix from a database for thedestination country selected by the user, the database comprisingcountry prefixes; prepending to the number a country prefix for thedestination country to generate a formatted number; and supplying theformatted number to a client installed at the first user terminal foreffecting the voice communication using the formatted number.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the database is located in the first userterminal.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is located on aremote server on the communication network.
 4. The method of claim 1,the database further comprising rate information for calls.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, further comprising: displaying the formatted numberand the rate information associated with conducting the voicecommunication to the formatted number.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinthe country icon is a country flag, and wherein the country flag is thecountry flag of the destination country.
 7. A system for effecting avoice communication via a communication network, the system comprising:a database comprising country prefixes; and a predictive dialercomponent, coupled to the database, the predictive dialer componentcomprising instructions executable to perform operations comprising:displaying a dialing screen in a user interface, the dialing screencomprising a country icon for a destination country, a keypad fordialing, and a display field; receiving a number in local form;responsive to a user input to select the destination country, displayinga list of countries, each country in the list comprising a country icon;recalling a country prefix from the database for the destination countryselected by the user; and prepending to the number a country prefix forthe destination country to generate a formatted number that is effectiveto enable the voice communication using the formatted number.
 8. Thesystem of claim 7, wherein the country icon is a country flag, andwherein the country flag is the country flag of the destination country.9. The system of claim 7, the dialing screen further comprising a callbutton effective to initiate the voice communication.
 10. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the country prefix is displayed in the display fieldbased on the selected destination country.
 11. The system of claim 7,the predictive dialer component comprising instructions executable toperform operations further comprising: responsive to the user input toselect the destination country, displaying a list of countries, eachcountry in the list comprising a country name, the country iconassociated with the country name, and the country prefix associated withthe country name.
 12. The system of claim 7, the database furthercomprising rate information for calls.
 13. The system of claim 12, thepredictive dialer component comprising instructions executable toperform operations further comprising: displaying the formatted numberand the rate information associated with conducting the voicecommunication to the formatted number.
 14. The system of claim 7,wherein the database is located at a server remote from the predictivedialer component.
 15. A user terminal for effecting a voicecommunication with a second user terminal connected via a communicationnetwork, the user terminal configured to perform operations comprising:displaying a dialing screen in a user interface, the dialing screencomprising a country icon for a destination country, a keypad fordialing, and a display field; receiving a number in local form at theuser terminal; responsive to a user input to select the destinationcountry, displaying a list of countries, each country in the listcomprising a country icon; recalling a country prefix from a databasefor the destination country selected by the user, the databasecomprising country prefixes; prepending to the number a country prefixfor the destination country to generate a formatted number; andsupplying the formatted number to a client installed at the userterminal for effecting the voice communication using the formattednumber.
 16. The user terminal of claim 15, wherein the database islocated in the user terminal.
 17. The user terminal of claim 15, whereinthe database is located on a remote server on the communication network.18. The user terminal of claim 15, the database further comprising rateinformation for calls.
 19. The user terminal of claim 18, the userterminal configured to perform operations further comprising: displayingthe formatted number and the rate information associated with conductingthe voice communication to the formatted number.
 20. The user terminalof claim 15, wherein the country icon is a country flag, and wherein thecountry flag is the country flag of the destination country.